Dive Review of Dive Aruba/Renaissance Ocean Suites in
Aruba

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Dive Aruba/Renaissance Ocean Suites, Jan, 2007, by JoAn Ferguson, VA, USA ( Reviewer 5 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 3167 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The Dive Op I read lots of trip reports and reviews on scubadiving.com, Undercurrent, and scubaboard.com, which led me to the decision to dive with Clive Paula. Clive runs Dive Aruba (divearuba.com), a small dive op that takes a max of 7 people diving. He doesn't rush you and allows you to dive as long as you like. One of our dives was 1 hour and 14 minutes. He has a weekly dive plan on his website, but he alters the plan to get the best diving for the current conditions. On some dives, it was just our family and Clive; other days one or two others. One day there were 4 others a full boat, but still enough space for all. Even though Clive is a one-man operation, we never felt rushed getting in the water or out. It was very comfortable diving and safety was never a question. He was very aware of the experience of the divers and kept a close watch on the less experienced. The Hotel We stayed at the Renaissance Ocean Suites, which is right next to the Renaissance Marina where Clive's boat is docked. We stayed in a one bedroom suite that had a small kitchen (small refrigerator, microwave, and sink; no dishes or utensils). Apparently some of the other suites have a more complete kitchen. The balcony was big enough for three sets of gear. However, this is definitely not a dive resort; people ask all kinds of questions as we schlepped our gear through the lobby. They have a tiny beach (probably man made), but also a private island with two beach areas - one for adults, the other for families. A boat launch runs every few minutes. We don't spend much time relaxing at the beach, but I went one afternoon. It was a nice diversion for a few hours. Some people spend all day, every day on the island. There were two nice pools and a good (but expensive) pool bar. The Renaissance has two parts to it - the Ocean Suites (where we stayed) and the Marina Tower. The Marina Tower is for adults only and has hotel rooms, rather than suites. Most of the restaurants and other services are available at the Marina Tower. It is across the street from the Ocean Suites, and a golf cart shuttle runs between the two. The Restaurants Before going, I read many trip reports on Aruba (from divers and non-divers). Everyone raves about the restaurants. I did my research (including restaurantsaruba.com) and was ready with my list of restaurants that my family would love. After striking out on the first few, we just randomly picked. Then we tried getting recommendations from other people there. We didn't have any great meals lots of pretty good meals. We think that we are spoiled by all of the great restaurants in the DC area. Or perhaps we just didn't have good luck. So, I dont have any restaurants to recommend Comparisons So how does Aruba compare to some other dive destinations? Here's some thoughts on how it compares to other destinations that we've visited in the past few years. Bonaire: Aruba has more variety (reefs, drift dives, and wrecks) and more topside activities (casinos, lots of restaurants, historic sites, horseback riding, ATVs, beaches, etc.). Arubas shorediving is very limited and the visibility wasn't as good. Bahamas (AquaCat itinerary out of Nassau): Aruba has much healthier reefs (many of the Bahamas reefs were covered with algae with very limited fish) but very few big animals (didn't see a single shark in Aruba!). St Croix and Grand Cayman: Aruba had better wrecks but no real wall dives. Cozumel: Aruba has drift dives, but slow & easy drift dives, not the speed of the Cozumel drift dives.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	lots of Caribbean islands, Florida Keys, Hawaii
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	79-79°F / 26-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	0-0 Ft/ 0-0 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	No rinse bucket for cameras were onboard. Clive handed down cameras carefully.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Dive Aruba/Renaissance Ocean Suites in Aruba

Dive Aruba/Renaissance Ocean Suites, Jan, 2007,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Dive Aruba/Renaissance Ocean Suites in
Aruba